As we go along in our journey, especially as visionaries, we grow, we change, our thinking evolves. It can be liberating and scary and wonderful and nerve-racking, all at the same time. But it is inevitable. We don’t stay the same, and I would say this is good, as we shouldn’t stay the same in many regards.
In this episode, I talk about the visionary’s journey. About my journey. I share my thoughts, my heart, and how I’ve changed in the way I think about what I do as a result of my journey. If you’re a visionary, it’s likely you’re on your own journey. So I hope by sharing some of mine, I might offer you some insights and encouragement. Please come with me.
“That may mean that the business doesn’t have the same trajectory that it did under the visionary but that doesn’t make the trajectory bad.” – Kris Plachy
Visionaries are more than simply dreamers. Visionaries focus not only on what might be but how to make it into reality. They hold a deep belief that what they dream can–and will–happen. To me, this is a sense like smelling or hearing. But what happens if this asset you’ve always relied upon suddenly isn’t there?
Every visionary has times when she cannot see. And it’s disorienting. It’s stifling. It’s paralytic. It’s shameful. But don’t worry, it’s okay. You’re not broken. It’s not a character flaw. After all, vision is ether. Let’s talk about it.
“I think you don’t know because the answer doesn’t exist yet. And we have to trust that.” – Kris Plachy
There is a myth that authority and leadership looks and sounds a certain way. Traditionally, this has been the expected look and voice pattern of a white, well-educated male. And, as a society, we’ve insidiously allowed that strangely ingrained falsehood to remain and grow deep roots. But it’s completely false.
Leadership does not have a specific look nor sound. Rather, it has characteristics. First of all, authority does not automatically equal leadership. One can have authority but not really be a leader or one can have and be both. Secondly, leadership isn’t telling other people what to do. That is authority. Leadership is so much more. Let’s talk about these important distinctions.
“What if it isn’t authoritarian approach? ‘Do what I say’. What if it’s more, ‘Hey, I’m doing this thing… Do you wanna come?... What if your primary role was the nurturing of and development of the future that you imagine?” – Kris Plachy
As visionaries, it is vital we create and embrace the flexibility to be able to pivot within our businesses and our focuses. Even if and when things are going extremely well, there is always development we continue to need as women, both individually and as an overall group, plus as CEOs. Unfortunately, the fear of making changes–especially big ones–is where many leaders end up stuck.
The Kris Plachy Team has watched these truths unfold as we’ve worked with nearly countless female CEOs over many years. That’s why I am so very excited to have my team with me for this episode. Recently, I made the decision to change up a lot of what we do and they agreed to come on the podcast to talk about things they’ve both seen and experienced. Michelle, Crista and Chelsea opened up about topics like filling the vision hole, reconfiguring the picture, reassuring your team, embracing the spirit of possibility, and much more.
“I think all of us who run businesses… we have to have these moments where we’re willing to be in suspension, in the in-between. It’s where we get a lot of really good insight.” – Kris Plachy
Book:
Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis
I want to thank my team, Michelle Arant, Director of Operations and Coach with the Kris Plachy Coaching Group, Crista Grasso, Fractional CMO, and Chelsea Sheridan, Executive of All Things Social Media, Landing Pages & Digital Marketing, once more for being on this episode with me!